Melchior
Picobrouwerij Alvinne

MelchiorMelchior
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From:
Picobrouwerij Alvinne
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
Ranked #178
ABV:
11%
Score:
82
Ranked #24,922
Avg:
3.6 | pDev: 15.28%
Reviews:
62
Ratings:
113
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 03, 2022
Added:
Dec 03, 2005
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  11
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by crhensel:
Photo of crhensel
Reviewed by crhensel from New Jersey

3.87/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
(bottle into trappist glass) From the first hint of the pour, I could tell that the carbonation was going to be off the chart and there was no disappointment there! There was no head to speak of, but the CO2 stuck right to the side of the glass the whole time. First hints of aroma were very off-putting as the main waft was that of cheese...never a good sign. Being a trooper, I pressed on, however, and found that the flavor was not too bad, if you love the aftertaste of the alcohol. I was about to give up, but found on another sip before the drain that sitting DID indeed mellow this initial alcohol taste and more of the subtle grain flavor cam forward. However, for advertising that it is brewed with mustard seeds, I could not tell at all. There was no hint of mustard at all in this drink. I would recommend letting this one air for a while before drinking for the flavors to mellow and mingle a tad first.
Dec 07, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by ajdemma from New York

Aug 03, 2022
 
Rated: 3.65 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 21, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by edthehead from Maryland

Jan 20, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by eric5bellies from Australia

Aug 29, 2021
Photo of chum_husk
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
11.2oz beer that is over three years old

I crack it open and smell mustard and hops. I pour it and it has a light root beer color with a head to match. More medicinal hops on the nose... heavy body to this beer that delivers a depth of flavors; dark fruits, earthen hops, absent the mustard (I'm ok with that) and with a heavy malt backing. Feels like I'm drinking a loaf of bread, but a well hopped bread that somehow tastes better liquified.

After scanning other reviews, after 3 years this beer has lost nothing. One peculiar thing was when sharing this beer, the lower half was noticeably lighter than the top half (first pour), bizarre and I'd like to know why this phenomenom happens. Honey, hops, and alcohol is how I'll remember this belgian gem
Nov 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Apr 21, 2019
Photo of Buglumpbeer1971
Reviewed by Buglumpbeer1971 from Texas

2.76/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Had high hopes after reading ingredients list. But really it’s just kind of there. Does have a pleasant fruit smell. Taste slightly watery, and can’t even taste a hint of mustard seed.
Jan 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by bigred89 from Maryland

Dec 23, 2017
Photo of DJ-Hophead
Reviewed by DJ-Hophead from England

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330 ml bottle, Etre Gourmet, BBE Oct 2013 - Pours cloudy amber with no noticeable head. Low carbonation. Aroma - candied sugar, honey, sweet jellied fruits. Taste - sweet, honey, candied sugar, nice alcoholic warmth, light bitter finish. Meant to be a possible gusher, older age probably mellows it, as well as increasing the ABV. Nice enough sweetish strong ale.
Jun 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.99 by desint from Belgium

Apr 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.74 by MichialTanner1 from Texas

Nov 29, 2015
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
From zombier. In Duvel glass. After dinner. Its high ABV isnt appreciable at all. The beer is very turbid, with lots of particles floating and little foam. Smells and tastes nicely sweet. A good and repeatable offering
Aug 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.7 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Jul 23, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: Pours a fairly clear peachy amber crowned with a billowy, lacy, 3” white foam collar.
S: Spicy, citrus nose.
T: It starts with large pitted fruit and finishes with a touch of mustard heat. There is some citrus in there too with a touch of salt or mineral.
F: Medium high carbonation, medium to medium light body.
O: An unusual and interesting beer.
Jul 20, 2015
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

2.99/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
BOTTLE: 11.2 fl oz. Brown glass. Cute "snub" design. 2015 vintage. Yellow-orange label with an intricate design. Purchased at an Austin, TX bottle shop.

11% ABV. 24 p O.G. 30 EBC color. 60 IBUs.

Reviewed live as a Belgian winter ale per Melchior's website, though Alvinne's distributor (B.United International) calls this "Davy Spiessens Belgian interpretation of the Barley Wine style."

Served cold into a goblet. Expectations are above average given the brewery.

No bubble show forms as it's poured.

*WARNING*: This gushes horribly upon opening. I lost easily 10% to the surface of my desk. Overcarbonation is anticipated. Perhaps the mustard seeds were more volatile than Davy realized?

HEAD: ~3 inches, with spots of brown yeast particulate riding atop the white head. Uneven thickness and a poor uneven consistency. Leaves no lacing as it recedes, but the retention is nice - ~4-5 minutes.

BODY: Murky orange-auburn with ample yeasty dregs visibly floating within. Translucent but nontransparent.

Appears severely overcarbonated.

Overall, it's a nice looking Belgian winter ale, but I can't say there're any stand-out characteristics on display. Looks lively and vigorous.

AROMA: On the sweeter side, with heavy fruit tones. Belgian candi sugar bolsters the malty sweetness comprised itself of amber malts, Munich malts, Belgian brown malts (which lend it a faint breadiness), and Belgian pale malts. Fruity notes of apricot, orchard pear, and faint peach. Has some honeyed characteristics, which is a refreshing change from the usual caramel-heavy Belgians. Biscuity, estery, and lightly spicy ale yeast is prominent, guiding the beer. Clove and allspice make appearances. Apricot marmalade dominates here.

I struggle to find the heat or spice of mustard/mustard seed, but cannot.

There may be an acetaldehyde off-note, as evidenced by hints of green apple.

It's a complex aroma, sure, but doesn't deliver on the promise of mustard seed, and it isn't much of a winter ale; the spices, fruit notes, and esters are emphasized over the malts.

Aromatic intensity is moderate.

TASTE: Fruit is prominent, with apricot, peach, green apple, and pear coming through pretty vividly. It's also quite sweet, with notes of honey malt, Belgian candi sugar, pale malts, Belgian brown malts, amber malts, and fruity marmalade. The malt backbone has a young rawness to it, running contrary to what you'd expect in a winter ale; don't look for rich notes of caramel, (deep) brown malt, or heavy bready tones here.

Mustard seed? I don't find it - or at least it's not distinct from the general spice profile showcased here. I do get clove, allspice, and maybe some nutmeg in the midst of the biscuity yeast, but little else.

Is it balanced? Not really; there's no bitterness to counter the heavy malty sweetness, and the raw feel of the beer just doesn't match the intended style whatsoever - either in terms of balance or accuracy. It's complex, sure, but in the absence of careful balance that intricacy is presented as a hodgepodge-y mess of flavours. Not a gestalt brew, nor a particularly cohesive one.

TEXTURE: Prickly overcarbonation mutes the booze and simultaneously prevents it from being refreshing. It's in the middle of the coarse/smooth spectrum, and errs on the wetter side until the finish - where it dries, emphasizing the green apple. Medium-bodied, with fair weight and heft on the palate.

This mouthfeel fails to elevate this beer, but it matches the style in general. Not as accentuating as would be ideal.

OVERALL: This didn't quite scratch my Belgian ale itch, nor did it incorporate the mustard seed in any meaningful way. Off-notes of acetaldehyde are indicated. It's a poor Belgian winter ale, and drinks like more of a boozy Belgian pale. I'm not sure what Alvinne was after here, but the result is a bit of an alcoholic mess and doesn't cater to the tastes of the discerning drinker. Even at local Belgian prices, I couldn't justify a second purchase. Even drinkability is limited by the overt alcohol presence.

High C (2.99)
Mar 30, 2015
Photo of dcmchew
Reviewed by dcmchew from Romania

3.49/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Like many other Alvinne beers, this was a really aggressive gusher, so pop the cap carefully. Therefore, huge fluffy, frothy white head. Dark amber, hazy.
Smells sweet, but fruity, with peach, honey-glazed apricot, pear compote, maybe just a bit sugary. Lots of spicy yeasts, with a lot of pepper, some nutmeg, some marzipan. A tart note too.
A nice mix of sweet and sour fruit up front, but mostly just sweet later on, when the sugared bready malts show up. There rich juicy peach and apricot, orchard fruit syrup, even some tropical hints, like overripe, mushy mango, in contrast with some mild cider apples, lemon and orange peel, faint berries. Lots of spices afterwards, with clove, pepper, allspice, hint of almond, faint lemongrass, but there's also a funky yeast, not exactly Brett, but still "green", a feeling that's enhanced by some nice bitter hop.
Not sure what the mustard seeds did here, probably just enhanced the spicy feel. Aftertaste is filled to the brim with yeasts, too much. No fruitiness, just some bitter hop. Medium body, kinda fizzy.
An aggressively unbalanced beer, but it does have some pretty nice moments. Gah, a pity.
Feb 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by kjkinsey from Texas

Jan 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.67 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jan 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.71 by lmaduells from Spain

Dec 24, 2014
Melchior from Picobrouwerij Alvinne
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 113 ratings